Reefer08
New member
I agree I wouldn't trust the Dow Chemicals especially with the Bromide thats included in the mixture. I would just stick to bulkreefsupply for calcium and baked baking soda for alkalinity.
Calcium Reactor vs 2-Part in a 200g+ SPS tank
- Thread starter gcarroll
- Start date
I agree I wouldn't trust the Dow Chemicals especially with the Bromide thats included in the mixture. I would just stick to bulkreefsupply for calcium and baked baking soda for alkalinity.
29reef
It's all about the flow
Greg, were you using a kalk reactor with your calcium reactor? Are you still using it?
I feel that with proper mixing and dosing liquid additives can be used with great results. For me I don't like having to mix several gal. buckets at a time and a single gal. was not enough to last me more than a week or two. I'm currently using a mix of a calcium reactor and kalk reactor, both tuned down because my demand is not high right now.
According to my ph probes, I have a range of 8.21-8.35 that I belive it is held higher by kalk and 24 hour illumination. I have house plants and I will run an airstone in my effulent if I have to close up windows.
I feel that with proper mixing and dosing liquid additives can be used with great results. For me I don't like having to mix several gal. buckets at a time and a single gal. was not enough to last me more than a week or two. I'm currently using a mix of a calcium reactor and kalk reactor, both tuned down because my demand is not high right now.
According to my ph probes, I have a range of 8.21-8.35 that I belive it is held higher by kalk and 24 hour illumination. I have house plants and I will run an airstone in my effulent if I have to close up windows.
Ian
I <3 Corals!
you use a calcium and kalk reactor on a 40 breeder?
I switched to dosing on 400 gallon system and all I can say is the growth coloration are very nice
I dose 16 ml of alk 24 times a day
I dose 15 ml of cal 20 times a day
everything is rock solid
the proflilux doser is the best piece of equipment I have bought in a long time
I dose 16 ml of alk 24 times a day
I dose 15 ml of cal 20 times a day
everything is rock solid
the proflilux doser is the best piece of equipment I have bought in a long time
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
what does this equate to as far actually raw material consumption? Im trying to weigh out switching from my Geo calcium reactor to BRS dosing. Currently I can rarely get a PH above 8.0, normally quite lower in th 7.75 - 7.8 range. Everything looks good except my colors seem to be loosing their pop, I think this is due to needing to change my 10 month old reeflux lamps though.
So the question is how often do you8 go through the 5 gallon buckets from BRS?
gcarroll
Active member
With using the calcium reactor, my ph would swing from 7.7 at night to 8.1 during the day. since dosing, ph is from 8.0 at night to 8.2 during the day. As you know I value stability so the stable ph is a plus to me.What was your pH while using a calcium reactor? With my calcium reactor I never see it at 8.3 pH, its usually around 8.0
But a disadvantage I see with automated 2-part dosing is that your not dosing Strontium and trace elements, which calcium reactor media also releases.
As for the disadvantage, The 2 part I am using includes Magnesium, Strontium, Potassium, and other trace elements so I am not worried there.
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gcarroll
Active member
Yes, I have a PM kalk reactor that I also used when running the calcium reactor. Problem is that it works great in the summer (evap 4 gallons per day) but once it cools off I only evap 1 gallon per day.
DT's_Reef
New member
I've had 4 high-end CA reactors on past systems and last year bought a Profilux doser. I really like it. Parameters are so much more stable.
I know many have had great success and stability with CA reactors, but I just found there were too many things I had to worry about and tinker with to make certain they didn't change.
I know many have had great success and stability with CA reactors, but I just found there were too many things I had to worry about and tinker with to make certain they didn't change.
Reefer08
New member
Thanks for the reply Greg! Id like to see the results you get from automated 2-part dosing. Looks like I have a reason to visit your tank now!
What kind of 2-part are you dosing that contains all of those extra additives? Im guessing WM? :fun2:
obiwanthegoby
Hair Algae cultivator
Ok, I got bored and did some quick calculations....
BRS 5 gallon buckets of calcium chloride and soda ash run 60 bucks. Their directions say 1.25 cups of calcium chloride to a gallon of RO and 1.125 cups of soda ash to a gallon or RO. Using this 5 gallons will make 64 g of calcium and 71 gallons of alk. (242L and 268 litres respectively.)
If you dose 1000mL or 1L per day you are looking at a cost of about 50 cents per day or $14.66 a month with correct math no rounding.
this doesnt include water through the RO (which is very cheap where I live) or the cost to run the peristolic pumps which is minimal. Youd have to order two new 5 gallon buckets of chems about every 6 -7 months.
I compared this to the estimated power consumption and cost of a calcium reactor.... 4.47 in electrcity+1.67 for CO2 consumption and 7.50 for media consumption per month. Grand total 13.64 a month to run the reactor. I estimated High on the media consumption at using about 70% of the 5 gallon bucket per year.
The difference between the two was 1.02 cheaper to run the reactor. With my sagging below 7.7 every once in a while and being stable at around 7.8 7.9 during the day I think the extra couple bucks would be worth it.
for those of you using the BRS chems with the larger systems does the cost that I estimated seem right? are you guys mixing up the solution more concentrated? AGAIN i estimated on 1L per day of both Calium hydroxide and sodium carbonate solution mixed per BRS directions....
obi
BRS 5 gallon buckets of calcium chloride and soda ash run 60 bucks. Their directions say 1.25 cups of calcium chloride to a gallon of RO and 1.125 cups of soda ash to a gallon or RO. Using this 5 gallons will make 64 g of calcium and 71 gallons of alk. (242L and 268 litres respectively.)
If you dose 1000mL or 1L per day you are looking at a cost of about 50 cents per day or $14.66 a month with correct math no rounding.
this doesnt include water through the RO (which is very cheap where I live) or the cost to run the peristolic pumps which is minimal. Youd have to order two new 5 gallon buckets of chems about every 6 -7 months.
I compared this to the estimated power consumption and cost of a calcium reactor.... 4.47 in electrcity+1.67 for CO2 consumption and 7.50 for media consumption per month. Grand total 13.64 a month to run the reactor. I estimated High on the media consumption at using about 70% of the 5 gallon bucket per year.
The difference between the two was 1.02 cheaper to run the reactor. With my sagging below 7.7 every once in a while and being stable at around 7.8 7.9 during the day I think the extra couple bucks would be worth it.
for those of you using the BRS chems with the larger systems does the cost that I estimated seem right? are you guys mixing up the solution more concentrated? AGAIN i estimated on 1L per day of both Calium hydroxide and sodium carbonate solution mixed per BRS directions....
obi
gcarroll
Active member
Yes running Warner Marine Calxmax.Thanks for the reply Greg! Id like to see the results you get from automated 2-part dosing. Looks like I have a reason to visit your tank now!
What kind of 2-part are you dosing that contains all of those extra additives? Im guessing WM? :fun2:
I have total water volume around 400 gallons, and mostly SPS dominated. I recently switched to 2 parts from BRS, and profilux dosing pumps. I could not be happier. My PH went from 7.8 at night to 8.05 at the end of light cycle to 8.10 at night to 8.30 at the end of light cycle. I use about 480 ml of alk and calcium per day.
20ml X 24 times of both calcium and alk. alk keeps at 9dkh, and calcium around 400 - 420ppm
20ml X 24 times of both calcium and alk. alk keeps at 9dkh, and calcium around 400 - 420ppm
I also experience this, especially in my Montipora. I'm also not sure about the cause...
Leonardo
Mike de Leon
New member
..,
PSU REEFER
New member
Drew's Doser's are great peices of equipment--makes life so much easier.
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